Hair Loss InformationNorwood Class and Head Shape – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello!

Your blog is wonderful, an excellent information source. You are also one of the few who mentions the mature hairline in a significant amount of detail. So many people get mislead by the classical Norwood 1 image, which is actually a juvenile hairline, as you said. (Many sources claim that only NW 1 means a full head of hair, and everything else is a sign of balding..)

That said, there is something you haven’t mentioned, but seems to be relevant: the size and shape of the head, especially the forehead.

NW 2 hair tends to look more dramatic on people with round faces and large foreheads than on oval heads, for example. In addition, I have noticed that some foreheads tend to have a more rounded shape, while others look more like a V (when viewed from above).

Do you agree on this?

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ConeheadThe Norwood hair loss classification describes the variations in male hair loss patterns. It is not the progression or stages one goes through. You can look like you have a full head of hair, but still be a Norwood 6 if you show the thinning pattern. Some may be a Norwood 3 and be that way for the rest of their life. In other words, Norwood 3 rarely, if ever, progresses to a Norwood 6.

With respect to the shape of one’s forehead or even the shape of their head, I agree it may exaggerate the look of a Norwood pattern, but forehead shape and hair loss are not directly related. Perhaps there should be a forehead classification.

Hair Loss InformationI Got a Year of Finasteride for 16 Bucks at Costco! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman and Dr. Pak
I recently had an FUE procedure done at your Los Angeles office and I want to thank Dr. Pak and his stuff which are very knowledgeable and really smart! And most of all very carring and are willing to go the extra mile to make the surgery the most pleasant one, I even had I conversation with Dr. Rassman while waiting for the elevator to arrive, he’s so down to earth and very polite.

I just wanted to let you guys know that at Costco warehouse store I recently got my finasteride medication for the whole year for only $16 dollars, before I used to pay $63 dollars per month for propecia, big savings, Once again thanks to Dr. Pak, Dr. Rassman and all of your staff (nicest people that i’ve been around so caring!) and sorry that on the day of the procedure I didn’t shave my head off and for being a little late to the appointment.

Thanks for everything you guys do for us and keep up the great work.

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Thanks for your kind words!

And thank you for sharing your Costco information. It seems they lowered their pricing. That’s great news! For anyone looking to save some money, I should note that you do NOT need to be a member at Costco to use their pharmacy (or buy liquor, for that matter)… but you do need a prescription for the 5mg finasteride (and cut the pills for treating hair loss).

Hair Loss InformationCan a Dermaroller Damage Hair? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am interested in using a dermaroller to enhance topical absorption. How long can the needles be before there is a risk of damaging the follicle and the surrounding vasculature?

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We do not use or have experience with a dermaroller. I had one on my desk to play around with, but it never got use on the scalp, so I am the wrong person to ask about this one. I wrote about that years ago. It still looks painful.

In general, anything with a sharp point or a needle that you use on yourself (or others) should be sterile and used with caution. If there are readers out there that use this product, I’d be curious to know what you think about it.

After Taking 5mg Finasteride For Years, Has Cutting the Dosage Caused Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been taking finasteride 5mg for 6 years and it has done a good job. I started cutting the pill in half and over the course of 5 months since I did so, I lost an incredible amount of hair. Do you think this is because I cut the dosage?

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I think if you were taking finasteride at 5mg strength daily for genetic hair loss, you were likely wasting your money and over medicating yourself. Did your doctor prescribe this to you for treating hair loss or do you have prostate issues? The recommended dose is 1mg daily for treating hair loss. Taking more just gives a higher chance of side effects. As far as I’m aware, more finasteride doesn’t mean more hair… so cutting the drug dose from 5mg to 2.5mg daily shouldn’t mean less hair.

I do not know why you are losing more hair. It may be that your genetic predisposition is taking its normal progressive course. You should follow up with your doctor for their assessment and recommendation.

Just understand the big picture here: There is no drug (no matter how high of a dose) that will stop hair loss completely and forever. Finasteride slows it down or even temporarily reverses hair loss to some degree, but over the course of years (and your lifetime) your genetic fate will win. If you are destined to lose your hair, it will happen. It is not related to the drug dosage. It is more related to time.

Hair Loss InformationMuscle Gains and Finasteride? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

How will finasteride impact muscle gains? I have heard so many things. some say it will improve because of the increase in testorone, i have also heard it can decrease because of higher estrogen levels. And have also read because of the higher estrogen you can store fat in the glutens and thigh areas, is this all true?

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Propecia was once banned by in the Olympics and some professional sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency, because it supposedly masked the use of steroids and due to similar theories that you point out, but I would doubt that finasteride will produce significant performance or muscle mass gains. Nowadays, Propecia is not banned in the Olympics or any professional sports to my knowledge.

The various info you’ve read online are prime examples of how there is so much disinformation on the Internet.

Hair Loss InformationHair Cooling Can Prevent Chemotherapy Induced Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’m worried about losing my hair from chemotherapy. Obviously treating the cancer is the most important thing but can I avoid going bald? I read some stuff about cooling the scalp. What can you tell me about that? Thanks

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Hair loss from chemotherapy is a common problem with certain drugs used to treat a variety of cancers. Recent reports show that systems like the Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System can prevent chemotherapy induced alopecia. It doesn’t work for everyone going through chemo, but cold cap systems like this have shown some success. You can learn more about it here.

Hair Loss InformationBump Appeared On the Scalp After Chemo Treatments – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My patient had adenocarcinoma of the colon and now has adenocarcinoma in the right colon. She has completed 6 of her 8 chemotherapy treatments. She had a bump that appeared on the top of her head in the last month. It does not itch, hurt or produce any symptoms.She picks it but nothing comes out. Suddenly appeared. Differentials for this diagnosis?

Thank you

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You sound like a doctor asking this question. There could be some inflammation following the hair loss from chemo, but I would want to know what the bump looks and feels like, its size, and the presence of any lymph nodes in the neck, etc.

In the News – Transplants Using Leg Hair – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Snippet from the article:

A new report highlights a novel way for doctors to replace thinning hairlines: transplanting leg hair.

The report, a study of two cases published in The Archives of Dermatology, describes a new procedure in which receding hairlines were restored by taking hair follicles from patients’ legs and grafting them to the head. Men’s leg hair had successfully been transplanted before to the back of the head, but these are believed to be the first documented cases of leg hair being used to restore the hairline.

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Leg hairRead the rest at the NY Times — A New Approach to Treating Hair Loss

The article is about Dr. Sanusi Umar’s amazing work as a pioneer in body hair transplants (BHT). He has privately reported procedures of 10,000 grafts in one sitting using body hair. These procedures are done through very long sessions at times, reported to run in the wee hours of the morning.

Body hair is not the same quality of head hair for use in hair transplants, so I don’t think that this technique will catch on. Although body hair seems to change and grow longer when placed into the head, its value is not equal to donor hair taken from the back and sides of the scalp.

Hair Loss InformationI’m Still Seeing Shedding from Finasteride After Months of Use – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I am from India. I am experiencing hair fall since 8 months. With doctors advice i started using finpecia and minoxidil 5% solution from the month of october. Initially there is a substantial reduction in hairfall. But minoxidil solution is creating itching and irritating sensation on my crown area. so i stopped using it in the month of january but continuing finpecia regularly. Since hairfall again started i started using minoxidil solution too.

I read in finpecia reviews that there will be a shedding phase after 3 or 4 months. now its the 5th month and it started shedding, Is it the so called ‘shedding phase’ while using finpecia? When it will stop. Please tell me. I am 22 years old and i am tensed about loosing may hair before 30’s.

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Generally, you do not have a shedding phase with finasteride 1mg (Propecia) use. Finpecia is a generic Propecia sold in India and manufactured by Cipla. I have been asked about finasteride shedding on occasion from readers, but I believe this is misinformation. The initial shedding is from topical minoxidil (Rogaine) and it is a well known phenomenon. The scalp irritation is also a well known issue for some who use minoxidil.

I cannot tell you when or if your hair loss will stop. I am not your doctor nor have I examined you to determine what your diagnosis or prognosis may be. You need to find a doctor who can examine you and recommend possible treatments. The drugs may give you few more years with hair or slow down the hair loss, but it never completely stops it (there is no cure).

Hair Loss InformationIs There a Delay Between Hair Growth Cycle Phases? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

After hairs go into the telogen phase and sheds 3 months later,does new hair start growing straight away or is there a delay between it falling out and a new hair taking it’s place?

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It varies with each individual and possibly with each follicular unit. It may also be seasonal (something that we are now observing, contrary to what I previous stated -my apologies).

We really know very little about this area, and some of the comments by doctors that have been in the hair restoration business for years show that they are convinced there is a seasonal component found in hair cycling, like most hairy animals.